Edinburgh OAP out for morning paper killed after hospital project manager reversed over her

A hospital project manager at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary yesterday admitted killing a 92-year-old pensioner as she walked to get her morning paper.

Francis Creedican, 58, from Edinburgh, failed to keep a proper lookout as he reversed out of his driveway and collided with Christina Young, who was walking with a frame.

The High Court in Glasgow heard that he collided with mother-of-two Mrs Young and then drove over her.

First offender Creedican, who works at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, got out of his Mercedes and saw Mrs Young lying face down with blood pouring from a head wound. He immediately died 999.

Mrs Young was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary where she was pronounced dead at 9pm.

A post-mortem examination showed she died from multiple injuries including rib fractures.

The court heard that Mrs Young was very fit and mobile for her age, but used a metal framed walker for support.

Creedican admitted causing the death of Mrs Young by careless driving on Southhouse Avenue, Edinburgh, on October 16, 2018.

He was originally charged with death by dangerous driving, but his plea to the reduced charge was accepted.

Prosecutor Angela Gray said: “Investigators carried out a reconstruction and concluded that Mrs Young had walked almost all the way past the accused's car before being struck.

“Mrs Young, who was a much loved woman, had a routine of getting up early and walking to the shops to collect her morning paper each day.

“She was walking on Southhouse Avenue around 8am when she was struck by the car.”

When police examined Creedican's car they noticed the rear window was misted over and could not be seen out of.

However, the car was fitted with a camera on the front dashboard and it was clear that the accused could have used this or his wing mirrors to check it was safe to move out.

Defence counsel Barry Smith said: “Mr Creedican wishes to tender his sincere remorse and regret that this terrible accident happened. He sends his sincere condolences to the family of Mrs Young.”

Judge Lord Matthews deferred sentence on Creedican until later this month and continued his bail.